Why Norton? Why Commando?

steveyacht · Oct 20, 2011

I have been wondering why the devotion to Norton, specifically Commandos is so strong. Is there another marque that has such a cult like devotion to the preservation of a particular model such as Commandos and all their variations? I am thinking possibly HD, but I don't ever remember seeing the love and devotion to a particular machine that has been (for all practical purposes) out of production for nearly 40 years.

I am proud to be one of these devotees, but I put mine together out of the crate when 18 while working at the Norton (Triumph, Ducatti, Moto Guzzi, Hodaka) dealership after school and on weekends.

Just curious....... I find it a true compliment to the Marque and Model

1up3down · Oct 20, 2011

1) Norton: The greatest history in motorcycle racing.

2) They made some 60,000 Commandos, so lots of young guys in the 70s owned them then and continue to love them.

3) Commandos are damn handsome motorcycles, get comments everywhere I go with mine.

4) Most people owning them agree they need to be very knowledgeable owners, lots of fiddling, so lots to do and talk about it.

5) Damn cool to man up and kick start it.

6) Front forks shake up and down at idle, how cool is that?

7) The sound out of the peashooters is glorious.

8) The separate gearbox, foot rest mounting plate, and timing cover are stunning in their simple beauty.

9) Long stroke parellel twin rolls out the torque, you can hear every throbbing heart beat, very very sexual.

10). add some more........

Unclviny · Oct 20, 2011

A Commando (with the throttle cables pulled tight):

Looks"right", feels "Right", sounds "right" and pulls ike a freakin' train.

Other bikes might do 1 (or 3) of those things but (like a Porsche) Commando's do them all.

Vince

Captain · Oct 20, 2011

some, most bikes are fun to ride, but nothing, NOTHING else I ride, puts a BIGGER smile on my face than a commando, Especially my well sorted and built to fit me Midnite!

From Ear to Ear..............

rvich · Oct 20, 2011

why-bother-with-commando-t10000.html?hilit= torque

Matt Spencer · Oct 20, 2011

The alternative was a TX 750 or a XS triple shaft drive . :lol:

bwolfie · Oct 20, 2011

I have a 79 xs triple for sale for ya matt.

Matt Spencer · Oct 20, 2011

Ever figured if you can trash the shaft drive . A lot of those thingos the bits were interchangeable there .

Will $ 50 Cover it ??

( im ' overseas ' so unless a geuwine unopened oil leaker , Im not in the market )
Funny how the copies never quite get it right .Even if they were reliable . Like refrigerators . :mrgreen:

Tridents have been known to be revved to 10.500 . Wottle the Yemahaw pull ? ?

RIGHT . Well Then . Id recon a Guzzi is the only thing comparable to a Commando.
But ' everyone ' knows Twins are Obsolete . If they read the 70s motorcycle Mags .

Hobot · Oct 20, 2011

Aw jeeze, Norton poster ads tells it and sells it for us all. Don't hurt that C'dos may be the only practical bike to operate routinely in modern traffic and not cause metal fatigue in normal routine use as happens on its rigid mounted relatives. Plentiful pleasant hand holding online so any and every issue explained so a caveman can do it. The very sound of it name, a Norton Commando.

DogT · Oct 20, 2011

Sex on 2 wheels.

Dave
69S

Hobot · Oct 20, 2011

I grantee Ms Peel gave me multiple road orgasms that lasted longer and deeper than mere sex great as that can be to us. It don't have to be limited to two wheels neither.

renorton · Oct 20, 2011

Most of my mates rode Harley or British here in aus because we refused to ride Japanese because of the way they treated our pow in ww2 norton owners that kept there bikes on the road were known to be the first to help others and most mechanically knowlegible held very high respect in motorcycle community in aus this was told to me before I got my commando by elder biker 20 years ago most bikes were shovels or older so on a ride it was common for bikes to break down and every one helped get each other going and a well sorted commando would always be up the front you know if you ridden one and now a lot of people that always lusted after one after bringing up families and house loaned can finally afford there dreams good to see so many coming back on the road like new

gtsun · Oct 20, 2011

In 1979 as a teeager I got my first bike, a funky Norton P11/g15 hybrid pieced together thing & a year or so later got my first Commando, a 72 750 in Dunstall style. Why a Norton? Because to me even in 1979 it was allready a classic beauty, it allready seemed rare because the streets were littered with Japanese bikes that were all covered in plastic & bad neon paint that looked like spandex workout clothes. Brit bikes looked tough & Nortons were special. Everyone knew what a Triumph was, Fonzy had one well three ) to me it's still much the same, you see 20 Triumphs & 10 BSA's for every Norton. And realy because it can handle modern road riddind & freeway speeds with ease & it's a classic bike that can do almost everything I want from a bike. The ridding I wouldn't want to use it for I rarely do.

tpeever · Oct 20, 2011

Guzzi owners are just as fanatic! Since restoring a 75 850T a few years ago, I now know why. Awesome bikes. Still prefer the lighter weight of the Commando though!!

rightshiftrick · Oct 21, 2011

Can't really explain it. I rode dirt bikes for about 10 years before deciding to buy a machine. I grew up learning Harley was king, and was trying to work my way into one, when a Triumph blew by me in my car on 285 in Atlanta. It liked it so cool at the time, and I started researching them. Then while at a little shop in North Atlanta, I saw a flat tanked Norton . Did some more research and found the local Britsh club GAMBA. Saw the Commando's showing up and fell in love. 1996 British in the Blue Ridge and I had my Commando. The rest is history

RSR

Bernhard · Oct 21, 2011

gtsun said:
Everyone knew what a Triumph was, Fonzy had one well three quote]

Here’s something he admitted on Morning TV recently, he couldn’t ride a motorcycle when he first did The Fonze!
He had to be pushed along for the camera scenes.

Torontonian · Oct 21, 2011

Nasty rip through my city today, pure smiles after cooldown. 3 compliments at intersections ,yes.

MikeM · Oct 21, 2011

For some reason, the Commando always caught my attention. Specifically the black and gold combo. This summer, I was able to make it happen. Not quite the color combo in my vision, but I like it. My friend who has had this particular machine since 1978 needed to move on. I was fortunate enough to be able to get it from him. I need to get it into running condition. Who knows, some day it may come full circle and go back.

mikegray660 · Oct 21, 2011

looks like we got a circle jerk here!

Torontonian · Oct 21, 2011

So messy. 3 compliment / conversations today over Crazy ,normally only 2 per day.

Why Norton? Why Commando?

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